My Italy

Despretis's thoughts were told to no one but himself. And he concealed himself very well, giving no one a chance to observe.

As the Italian government reached an agreement, it prepared at an unprecedented speed. The first thing is how to make the fleet sail to the South China Sea in a legitimate manner. Here we have to mention Li Zhongtang's help.

The big boss in charge of Beiyang personally wrote to the court, announcing that Italy planned to send a fleet to train with Beiyang. Italy also took the opportunity to announce that it planned to send a fleet to train with the Qing fleet.

Of course, it was not only the friendship with the Italians that allowed Li Zhongtang to come forward to provide cover. The 12 Italian fast cannons and a thousand Italian fast guns made Li Zhongtang even more satisfied.

After gaining the name, the Italian navy and army immediately accelerated their concentration. First, it took only three days for the army's three thousand men to prepare. He transferred 2,000 people from the Army's Second Division and another 1,000 people from the Guards (at Carlo's strong request) to form a temporary regiment-level establishment of 3,000 people.

Compared with the army, the navy is much slower. But we can't blame them. Warships can't just leave. Necessary maintenance before departure is a must. In addition, some parts that may be damaged need to be replaced, and various logistics ships also need to be prepared for such a long voyage.

And the choice of commander this time is also a big problem. This is not to say that the navy cannot choose a leader, but that there are too many commanders to choose from. Moreover, such an action is so obvious that it is full of fame and fortune. Anyone who feels they are qualified will want to compete for it.

Admiral Golek felt that this was much more troublesome than other jobs, and it also gave him more headaches.

Of course, no matter how much he had a headache, he still had to do other things. Countless supplies were gathered, such as cinchona to treat malaria and various drugs to treat tropical diseases. Of course, in addition to medicines, various other protective items are also indispensable. In a tropical environment, the most feared thing is various sadistic diseases. This is also the biggest threat to European colonists, which is much more powerful than the indigenous people. .

Thanks to the hard work of everyone in Italy, the preparation time this time was one and a half months. In this competition to lead the team, Lieutenant General Oliver Hillion won over other competitors.

So under the leadership of this vice-admiral, the mighty Italian fleet began its journey to the Far East.

Compared with the whole country working together and making various preparations, Jia Liwen, the Italian minister to the Qing Dynasty, was much more powerful and weak.

However, his task was not light at all. He had just come out as the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and before he could take a breath, he heard the secretary's report. "Minister, Mr. Howard sent a telegram from Shanghai. The goods you need are ready. However, due to the urgency of the request, the cost is a bit high."

Jia Liwen, who was sitting in the back seat, asked. "How high?"

"It cost four hundred and one thousand lire."

"It's okay, it's still within the acceptable range."

The goods the two discussed were a batch of guns and ammunition, and they were guns and ammunition from other countries. This is also the equipment that Jia Liwen is preparing to transport to Lanfang to support its resistance to the Dutch.

Of course, whether the Lanfang people can get these weapons will need to be discussed first before knowing. And his visit to Governor Zhang this time was to find a middleman. Logically speaking, the fewer people who know about this kind of thing, the better. However, considering the issues of speed and success rate, it is best for the Qing government to take action.

"Minister, what was the outcome of the meeting?"

After reporting the news he had just received, the secretary became concerned about the outcome of the minister's visit.

Faced with the secretary's question, Minister Jia Liwen answered with a smile on his face. "The conversation with Governor Zhang was very good. He has promised to send people to Meizhou immediately to find Qing people who have connections with Lanfang."

After hearing what the minister said, the secretary hesitated for a while and then continued. "Can you please add another person who is responsible for contacting the Lanfang people?"

The secretary's words made Jia Liwen look up at him. "What, you want to go?"

The secretary nodded vigorously. "I want to contribute to the country, and I'm afraid that Major Kerra, the military attache, won't be able to deal with people from Lanfang."

Facing the secretary's words, Jia Liwen just looked at him without saying anything.

The secretary who had been with the minister for several years knew what the minister meant, so he had no choice but to say it truthfully. "Okay, Your Excellency, Minister, I just want to get some credit. I have been with you for several years, and I still hold the position of second secretary."

"Not willing?"

"Yes."

"Not this time. Major Kerra is the suitable candidate for the first contact. You can go next time."

Jia Liwen's words made the secretary put aside her petty thoughts and sit quietly in the carriage.

As for Governor Zhang Nanpi Zhang who he had just visited, he was talking with his staff after Jia Liwen left.

"Mr. Zhu, why do you think this Italian minister suddenly became interested in the overseas Lanfang people?"

The person whom Zhang Zhidong called the Bamboo King was his new staff member Zhao Fengchang. Zhao Fengchang, who was born in Changzhou, had to go south to Guangzhou because of the collapse of the Taiping Rebellion. He once served as the staff of Yao Jinyuan, the Guangdong feudal lord. Later, Yao Jinyuan was dismissed and became the staff of Governor Zhang who went south to Guangzhou. Because of his diligence, quick thinking, and skillful handling, he was quickly appreciated by Zhang Zhidong and was appointed as the supervising copywriter, involved in secrets, and drafted telegrams and memorials.

Faced with Governor Zhang's inquiry, Zhao Fengchang naturally made some assumptions. "What Governor Xian is thinking, I think Yiren should want to follow a false path to destroy Guo."

As expected of a man with quick thinking, he immediately guessed the Italians' plans through the Italian fleet's intention of coming to the Italian minister to ask him to help.

"So Mr. Zhu, do you think this governor should help with this?"

"In both public and private matters, the Governor of the Constitution should help with this. In public affairs, it is beneficial to the court to make good friends with the people of the country. When observing the people of the country, they seem to attach great importance to the opinions of the court. From intervening in the war between the court and the legal person, although there are people with good intentions and The legal person has the intention of making enemies, but he is willing to work so hard. This can be seen that Yi Ren seems to be more hoping to make good friends with the court with his unique attitude. In private, Mr. Governor Xian is a good person, and he will need Yi Ren's skills in the future. When the time comes, it will show."

Zhao Fengchang explained all aspects of the friendship with Italy, which made Governor Zhang nod repeatedly. "One word from Mr. Zhu is worth ten years of studying. Then just do as Mr. Zhu said. I will send a message soon to ask Meizhou to select people to send to Guangzhou as soon as possible."

Following Governor Zhang's decision, the fast horse from the Governor's Office immediately delivered the official document to the prefect of Meizhou. Facing the governor's urgent order, the Meizhou prefect naturally did not dare to slack off and immediately asked people to search for people who had contact with Lan Fang. After three days of searching, a man named Liu Jingsheng was immediately invited to the prefect's Yamen.

This is Liu Jingsheng, the cousin of Liu Enguan, the ruler of Lanfang, and he is an excellent choice for the middle man.

Liu Jingsheng was soon sent to Guangzhou. After a conversation with Italian Minister Jia Liwen, Liu Jingsheng got on a transport ship and headed south to Lanfang with the Italian military attache Major Kerra.

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